Steven Gerrard has started every game he has been in the squad for so far this season- 17 in total for club and country.
And so England’s upcoming friendlies against Germany and Chile could be seen as time for the 33-year-old Liverpool and Three Lions skipper to get some well-deserved rest.
After all, it was job well done when he led England’s successful qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014, and it is in the best interests of both his teams for Gerrard to remain as fresh as possible.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers accepts that Gerrard may play in the friendlies, however.
He knows that the midfielder is passionate about leading his country in any game, and has given his blessing for the upcoming matches.
But Rodgers has also intimated that Gerrard will probably consider quitting international football after the World Cup next year, in the interest of prolonging his Anfield career.
"I think it [resting Gerrard] is something that Roy [Hodgson, England coach] has looked at for these games but Steven is a real talisman for the group,” Rodgers said.
“He is real leader for the team and everyone there. Whether he plays in the two friendlies or not is another matter. There are absolutely times when you can rest him and I think that is important for him.
"But for Steven he probably looks at it as though this is his last international year and after the World Cup that will be all finished and he will have lots of time to rest then. He and Roy have a good relationship and I'm sure if he needs that breather in these two games he will get that."
Gerrard will be 34-years-old by the time the World Cup starts in Brazil, and Rodgers says that with his football dotage upon him, Liverpool’s finest wants to make every minute count.
"I think it's something he will assess and look at," he said.
"If you go to a World Cup in Brazil at 34 years of age you might not have many more championships left in you. Very few players do. I can think of [Javier] Zanetti and [Paolo] Maldini who have played on late but it's rare.
“It will be Steven's decision but I'm sure in these years now he'll want to maximise every cap, every performance and every minute on the pitch he can, and that's what he's trying to do."
Read: England Book Place In Brazil
Read: Gerrard Nears Another Milestone
